Justice Robert Horton handed a 42-month sentence to Bloomfield’s Jennifer Simao this week.

Ms. Simao pleaded guilty to fraud in excess of $800,000. Victims included her employer, Theatre Roulant, and her mother.

Ms. Simao also pleaded guilty to forging medical letters to avoid attending court.

Justice Horton’s the three-and-a-half-year sentence exceeded the terms recommended by both the defence (24 months) and the Crown (30 months). Ms. Simao was, however, given credit for time served pre-sentence at the Quinte Detention Centre. She will remain behind bars for three more years.

In delivering his sentence, Justice Horton noted that while the monetary damage could be calculated, more difficult to measure was the mental anguish Ms. Simao caused her victims.

The Justice noted that interviews with Ms. Simao, her family, and a previous conviction for fraud in 2000 provided ample evidence of her character.

“Ms. Simao does not posses any insight into the damage she has caused her victims,” he said. “A sentence that doesn’t acknowledge both the monetary and psychological harms brings the court into disrepute.

“Neither the financial damage nor the emotional toll in this case was trivial.

“Ms. Simao was fully aware of the damage she was causing, and shows she valued her own wants above all else,” said Justice Horton. “The impacts of Ms. Simao’s actions were and will continue to be enormous, long lasting, and life-altering for her victims.”

Other sanctions include a 10-year Criminal Code Order that prohibits Ms. Simao from volunteering or gaining any employment that involves authority over money, property, or valuable security. Ms. Simao must also divulge her crimes when applying for future employment. The Judge also ordered restitution for all impacted parties.

The Reactions

John Burns of Theatre Roulant said he was satisfied with Justice Horton’s disposition on a penal sentence. While the provable theft eclipsed $5,000, the troupe is missing a total of $20,000.

“I have an overwhelming sense of relief that it’s over with,” Mr. Burns said. “Happily, this theft is becoming a diminished issue but it still presents challenges. We lost several sponsors because of it and Conrad and I have higher mortgage payments as we try to make things right.”

Speaking on behalf of her sister Katherine Schoner and the Schoner family, Nancy Brandolisio said it was another emotionally taxing day. But worth the wait.

“Seeing Justice Horton hand down the maximum penalty allowed, along with strict conditions for when she’s released, was a relief.

“I hope this brings some sort of closure for all the victims that were directly and indirectly impacted by her selfish and thoughtless actions.”

The Crimes

The marketing manager at Impacto between 2018 and 2022, Ms. Simao created false online advertising campaigns using Shopify and Amazon accounts to steal $712,000. She also ordered items from Amazon delivered to her home address and paid for them using company credit cards.

In 2023, Ms. Simao misdirected over $5,300 into a personal account while working as Communications and Media Director for the Station Road Arts Collective (Now called Theatre Roulant). She created an e-transfer address similar to the one used by Station Road — only it led to her own back account.

Ms. Simao pleaded guilty to these charges in July 2025.

While awaiting sentencing, Ms. Simao was arrested and charged on September 12 last year with three new counts of fraud.

Ms. Simao’s mother Katherine Schoner went to police after being contacted by the Canada Revenue Agency regarding a $4,000 tax bill for withdrawals from her RRSP. 

Belleville Police detectives determined that in February and March 2023, Ms. Simao took nearly $18,000 from her mother’s retirement account.

Then the detectives dug deeper. Ms. Schoner said she felt called by compassion to support her daughter Ms. Simao with medical and legal expenses after she received a liver transplant and subsequently experienced failing health. She asked her daughter to provide receipts for the expenses she reimbursed.

Ms. Simao produced letters from a pharmacy detailing $42,000 for experimental medication not yet available in Canada. There were also letters from a Montreal-based attorney requesting $12,000 in retainers related to a civil matter.

The court heard that Ms. Simao forged all the correspondence to bilk her mother out an additional $54,000. All told, Ms. Simao siphoned away $71,000 from her elderly parent.